Windows XP Pro question?

[Guest Jason F.]

So I am jumping on the Vista Blows bandwagon. I bought a new laptop some months back and it was loaded with Vista. At first I had no problems and thought all you Anti Vista people were just crack heads, or just generally cracked. Now I am starting to see the light.

My laptop no longer boots or recovers as normal. It locks up and gets in a loop where it cycles on and off (blank screen) for many minutes before it hits the right cycle and decides to start. I have done everything my former IT drone mind can come up with and no luck. Time to upgrade to XP Pro.

Anyone have a good source for a cheap and legal copy of XP Pro? My slightly less than legal sources have all dried up as I have been out of the IT world for seven years. I would not be closed minded to a less than legal copy if someone has one I can "evaluate" for a time.

[strickj]

I dont know anyone with a disk anymore.

I think I have 98se laying around on disk somewhere,I guess that would still be an upgrade,lol

[Guest Taurus Pro]

Hey Man ,

I have a Windows XP pro disk with completely stable Vista components on it and you don't need a reg key, i can try to make you a copy.

[Guest EasilyObsessed]

If you use a Dell XP disc they dont check for registration

Also, another "trick"....since most corporate or business computers are flashed, the serial number on them never gets registered. Free copies compliments of the sticker on the top of the computer

[SkWaShDeM]

You can still get an OEM copy of XP Pro 64bit for $140 from Newegg -if- you order a major hardware component with it. I.E., order a hard drive, video card, RAM sticks, or similar. Fully legal, semi-cheap, and comes with a valid key. I don't know if anyone is still selling 32bit OEM copies, but the price points were the same.

Otherwise, you could see if a student at a nearby university will get you an MSDNAA copy, or an academic copy.

[dunndw]

I can make some calls Thursday and see about picking up a OEM copy of XP Pro here locally (Nashville) if you're interested in going that route.

[Guest Jason F.]

I have gotten a couple responses via PM regarding this so I may have a solution worked out. I will send a note to a few folks and see what results over the course of the weekend.

Thanks for the responses.

[DWARREN123]

Will your new puter allow you to load something besides what came on it? I have tried to load a different version of XP on my Compaq and it will not let me.

[dunndw]

DWarren:you can...it just might take some force feeding to make it understand your will

[strickj]

Do you have a older Compaq or an HP?

You can actually load two OS at one time.If me thinking correctly when you boot up just go into safe mode and pick ME or XP,etc.

Also you can load deferent components of one OS onto another OS

[I_Like_Pie]

Bit torrent....it is your friend.

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Dump Vista.....and Windows....Get Apple and Mac OS X Software!

[DWARREN123]

My Compaq is a couple of years old now. I don't like the way they put a OS on a system and do not give the buyer a real choice of OS or programs.

[Guest Taurus Pro]

Im a Linux fan, you have to go with open source

[Guest CrazyLincoln]

Geez people, you are too cutting edge for me. First I just put my DOS disk in my 5.25" floppy drive. Then after it boots, I put my program disk in, and then my disk to save stuff. Hold on, my extra 2MB of RAM just came in, yay!......

[Guest jp79]

As part of the eula for vista (at least the ultimate and business version) you can legally downgrade to XP for free you just need to get your hands on the xp media.

May want to look into doing things that way as it wouldnt require you to spend any more money

[Guest jam]

All I can say is that I've been dual booting xp and ubnuntu for a while now and I can telll you that linux has come a long way in a few years.

I would check out ubuntu (very user friendly and great community for support)

[strickj]

Geez people, you are too cutting edge for me. First I just put my DOS disk in my 5.25" floppy drive. Then after it boots, I put my program disk in, and then my disk to save stuff. Hold on, my extra 2MB of RAM just came in, yay!......

Wow you still have a floppy,and a 5.25 at that!?!

[Guest Jason F.]

A floppy 5.25" is nothing to be ashamed of... Oh wait different conversation.

No Mac stuff for me. Been there, done that. Can not run the software I need on it. All of the CAD/CAM stuff I can get from work is MS based and I am not about to pay the $400 to $800 a seat license for it in an Apple compatible version.

[Magiccarpetrides]

MACs are great if you dont play games or do resource intensive software ;-D Me im computer nerd and as such wouldnt get within 5 feet of a MAC. Now if your just an internet browser/shopper/youtube viewer MACS are the bomb.

[Guest ui_cleirigh]

Did you get in touch with anyone concerning a disk? I have an "eval" version of Windows XP Pro SP2 laying around.

[strickj]

A floppy 5.25" is nothing to be ashamed of... Oh wait different conversation.

[Guest Jason F.]

Did you get in touch with anyone concerning a disk? I have an "eval" version of Windows XP Pro SP2 laying around.

I think I have a couple people who are going to bring me an eval copy today. I should have one that works soon. If not I will let you know.